Is Willow Bend Elementary School a good school?

Willow Bend Elementary School ranks 847 th of 2067 Illinois elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Willow Bend Elementary School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 955 students attended Willow Bend Elementary School.

What is the racial makeup of Willow Bend Elementary School?

Students at Willow Bend Elementary School are 36% Hispanic, 28% Asian, 27% White, 4% Two or more races, 4% African American, 1% American Indian.

Willow Bend Elementary School

Summary:

Willow Bend Elementary School is a public elementary school located in Rolling Meadows, Illinois, serving 955 students in grades K-6 as part of the Palatine CCSD 15 district.

Willow Bend's academic performance is a concern, with proficiency rates in English Language Arts and Mathematics lower than the district and state averages. The school's performance varies across grade levels and student subgroups, with 6th graders and Asian/White students outperforming other groups. Compared to nearby schools like Pleasant Hill Elementary and schools in the Arlington Heights School District 25, Willow Bend's academic achievement is generally lower. The school has also experienced a significant increase in chronic absenteeism, which may be contributing to its performance challenges.

Willow Bend's declining academic ranking, from the top 10% in 2018-2019 to the middle 40% in 2023-2024, is a concerning trend that warrants further investigation. The disparities in subgroup performance, particularly for Hispanic and English Language Learner students, suggest a need for targeted interventions. Exploring the practices of nearby high-performing schools, such as Windsor Elementary and Dryden Elementary, could provide valuable insights to help Willow Bend improve its educational outcomes for all students.

Detail:

Public K-6

4700 Barker Ave
Rolling Meadows, IL 60008-3202

(847) 963-7300

District: Palatine CCSD 15

SchoolDigger Rank:
847^th of 2,067 Illinois Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $14,313

Student/teacher ratio: 23.9

Number of students: 955

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

35.6%

Asian:

28.0%

White:

26.6%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 46.2%

See top rated Illinois elementary schools

Compare Willow Bend Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Willow Bend Elementary School ranks better than 59% of elementary schools in Illinois. It also ranks 9^th among 15 ranked elementary schools in the Palatine CCSD 15 School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 53.72. (See more...)

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Willow Bend Elementary School has the largest elementary school student body size in the Palatine CCSD 15 School District. (See more...)

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Teachers

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Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Willow Bend Elementary School is $14,313, which is the lowest among 15 elementary schools in the Palatine CCSD 15 School District!

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Willow Bend Elementary School:

SchoolDigger ranks Willow Bend Elementary School 847^th of 2067 Illinois public elementary schools. (See Willow Bend Elementary School in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

English Language Learner students:

Special Education students:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Disabled students:

Male students:

Asian students:

Hispanic students:

White students:

Palatine CCSD 15:

SchoolDigger ranks Palatine CCSD 15 375^th of 813 Illinois school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

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Your rating for Willow Bend Elementary School?

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Rank History for Willow Bend Elementary School

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Rank History for all students at Willow Bend Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	IL State Percentile
2003	70.94	677^th	2020	66.5%
2004	67.85	758^th	2030	62.7%
2005	76.62	421^st	2022	79.2%
2006	76.77	434^th	2086	79.2%
2007	73.10	594^th	2095	71.6%
2008	75.58	515^th	2092	75.4%
2009	78.00	436^th	2120	79.4%
2010	80.89	305^th	2139	85.7%
2011	83.50	200^th	2147	90.7%
2012	82.01	277^th	2166	87.2%
2013	85.50	260^th	2167	88.0%
2014	82.90	323^rd	2093	84.6%
2015	87.21	244^th	2052	88.1%
2016	87.55	218^th	2046	89.3%
2017	80.11	365^th	2044	82.1%
2018	86.75	222^nd	2037	89.1%
2019	88.66	185^th	2086	91.1%
2021	73.43	453^rd	1948	76.7%
2022	70.05	573^rd	2082	72.5%
2023	60.48	736^th	2077	64.6%
2024	53.72	847^th	2067	59.0%

See the entire list of Illinois Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Willow Bend Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	IL State Percentile
2018	79.08	69^th	718	90.4%
2019	73.34	82^nd	743	89.0%
2021	67.71	68^th	537	87.3%
2022	60.46	177^th	768	77.0%
2023	45.58	352^nd	788	55.3%
2024	44.81	390^th	826	52.8%

See the entire list of Best Illinois Elementary Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Willow Bend Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	IL State Percentile
2021	59.19	190^th	640	70.3%
2022	47.49	442^nd	1113	60.3%
2023	73.18	205^th	1156	82.3%
2024	64.32	306^th	1195	74.4%

See the entire list of Best Illinois Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Willow Bend Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	IL State Percentile
2018	84.59	119^th	1765	93.3%
2019	81.82	151^st	1816	91.7%
2021	59.94	413^th	1514	72.7%
2022	49.22	796^th	1763	54.8%
2023	52.76	746^th	1808	58.7%
2024	49.46	814^th	1793	54.6%

See the entire list of Best Illinois Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Willow Bend Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	IL State Percentile
2018	84.40	253^rd	1964	87.1%
2019	88.58	173^rd	2019	91.4%
2021	64.28	512^th	1680	69.5%
2022	60.68	683^rd	1970	65.3%
2023	55.89	772^nd	1957	60.6%
2024	47.60	934^th	1942	51.9%

See the entire list of Best Illinois Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at Willow Bend Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	IL State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	69.12	182^nd	907	79.9%
2024	61.24	218^th	886	75.4%

See the entire list of Best Illinois Elementary Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Male students at Willow Bend Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	IL State Percentile
2018	86.76	204^th	1972	89.7%
2019	86.90	196^th	2019	90.3%
2021	74.99	350^th	1707	79.5%
2022	75.86	413^th	1977	79.1%
2023	62.86	612^th	1984	69.2%
2024	58.47	717^th	1959	63.4%

See the entire list of Best Illinois Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Asian students at Willow Bend Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	IL State Percentile
2018	55.94	114^th	242	52.9%
2019	65.82	80^th	243	67.1%
2021	67.60	46^th	134	65.7%
2022	71.77	62^nd	226	72.6%
2023	61.39	85^th	237	64.1%
2024	40.57	156^th	219	28.8%

See the entire list of Best Illinois Elementary Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Willow Bend Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	IL State Percentile
2018	65.84	223^rd	938	76.2%
2019	68.17	204^th	955	78.6%
2021	43.70	363^rd	742	51.1%
2022	34.84	611^th	954	36.0%
2023	28.26	742^nd	970	23.5%
2024	24.59	775^th	959	19.2%

See the entire list of Best Illinois Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Willow Bend Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	IL State Percentile
2018	66.94	431^st	1463	70.5%
2019	66.67	433^rd	1462	70.4%
2021	74.16	250^th	1308	80.9%
2022	50.52	688^th	1425	51.7%
2023	34.54	976^th	1419	31.2%
2024	39.92	850^th	1392	38.9%

See the entire list of Best Illinois Elementary Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Illinois State Board of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: Illinois State Board of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 3.7)

67%

33%

Reviews:

by a parent
Saturday, February 16, 2013

This school is terrible. The principal and assistant principal will not communicate with you and treat you as if you don't matter in your child's education. There are only a few teachers that seem to actually care about the students, most will not go out of their way to make sure your child is doing their best. Close Quote

by a parent
Monday, August 22, 2011

my child goes to this school
and she learned many things
head to toe Close Quote

Enrollment information for Willow Bend Elementary School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1988	312	33	55	119	n/a	n/a	n/a	0	519
1989	351	31	50	113	n/a	n/a	n/a	0	545
1990	268	16	51	114	1	n/a	n/a	0	450
1991	285	15	46	155	1	n/a	n/a	0	502
1992	243	10	48	146	1	n/a	n/a	0	448
1993	245	15	43	102	4	n/a	n/a	0	409
1994	238	23	36	104	0	n/a	n/a	0	401
1995	228	30	32	190	0	n/a	n/a	0	480
1996	228	30	32	190	0	n/a	n/a	0	480
1997	227	31	50	173	0	n/a	n/a	0	481
1998	226	35	30	202	1	n/a	n/a	0	494
1999	232	45	28	196	2	n/a	n/a	0	503
2000	218	43	31	195	1	n/a	n/a	0	488
2001	235	37	37	177	0	n/a	n/a	0	486
2002	274	44	52	126	0	n/a	n/a	0	496
2003	274	44	52	126	0	n/a	n/a	0	496
2004	241	26	40	106	0	n/a	n/a	0	413
2005	238	33	41	132	0	n/a	n/a	7	451
2006	218	30	55	131	0	n/a	n/a	9	443
2007	227	24	57	147	1	n/a	n/a	22	478
2008	216	23	73	144	0	n/a	n/a	16	472
2009	226	24	115	202	0	n/a	n/a	29	596
2010	206	28	117	108	0	n/a	n/a	26	485
2011	207	29	138	118	0	1	2	0	495
2012	203	28	140	104	0	0	5	0	480
2013	225	30	165	88	2	1	5	0	516
2014	232	19	195	96	1	0	3	0	546
2015	262	18	193	81	0	2	8	0	564
2016	267	17	232	88	0	1	11	0	616
2017	276	11	266	74	0	1	23	0	651
2018	256	10	269	61	0	2	33	0	631
2019	239	13	287	59	1	2	30	0	631
2020	227	12	251	62	3	2	30	0	587
2021	269	15	284	375	7	2	34	0	986
2022	247	26	279	402	8	1	38	0	1001
2023	254	39	267	340	13	2	40	0	955

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Willow Bend Elementary School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	519	29.3	17.7	n/a
1989	545	29.0	18.7	n/a
1990	450	29.5	15.2	n/a
1991	502	31.1	16.1	n/a
1992	448	29.1	15.3	n/a
1993	409	23.1	17.7	n/a
1994	401	22.0	18.2	n/a
1995	480	23.5	20.4	n/a
1996	480	23.5	20.4	n/a
1997	481	23.0	20.9	n/a
1998	494	24.8	19.9	n/a
1999	503	29.0	17.3	n/a
2000	488	27.0	18.1	n/a
2001	486	28.0	17.4	n/a
2002	496	30.0	16.5	23.4
2003	496	30.0	16.5	23.4
2004	413	28.0	14.8	22
2005	451	27.0	16.7	19.8
2006	443	23.5	18.9	29.7
2007	478	22.0	21.7	29.6
2008	472	24.0	19.7	24.6
2009	596	27.5	21.7	17.6
2010	485	29.0	16.7	29
2011	495	27.0	18.3	22.6
2012	480	26.7	17.9	25.8
2013	516	49.3	10.4	37.8
2014	546	34.0	16.0	35.7
2015	564	36.0	15.6	36.7
2016	616	35.0	17.6	23.9
2017	651	35.2	18.4	26.9
2018	631	35.6	17.6	19.8
2019	631	38.4	16.4	18.4
2020	587	38.0	15.4	19.3
2021	986	n/a	n/a	n/a
2022	1001	38.4	26.0	41.5
2023	955	39.8	23.9	46.2

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Willow Bend Elementary School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	519	29.3	17.7	n/a
1989	545	29.0	18.7	n/a
1990	450	29.5	15.2	n/a
1991	502	31.1	16.1	n/a
1992	448	29.1	15.3	n/a
1993	409	23.1	17.7	n/a
1994	401	22.0	18.2	n/a
1995	480	23.5	20.4	n/a
1996	480	23.5	20.4	n/a
1997	481	23.0	20.9	n/a
1998	494	24.8	19.9	n/a
1999	503	29.0	17.3	n/a
2000	488	27.0	18.1	n/a
2001	486	28.0	17.4	n/a
2002	496	30.0	16.5	23.4
2003	496	30.0	16.5	23.4
2004	413	28.0	14.8	22
2005	451	27.0	16.7	19.8
2006	443	23.5	18.9	29.7
2007	478	22.0	21.7	29.6
2008	472	24.0	19.7	24.6
2009	596	27.5	21.7	17.6
2010	485	29.0	16.7	29
2011	495	27.0	18.3	22.6
2012	480	26.7	17.9	25.8
2013	516	49.3	10.4	37.8
2014	546	34.0	16.0	35.7
2015	564	36.0	15.6	36.7
2016	616	35.0	17.6	23.9
2017	651	35.2	18.4	26.9
2018	631	35.6	17.6	19.8
2019	631	38.4	16.4	18.4
2020	587	38.0	15.4	19.3
2021	986	n/a	n/a	n/a
2022	1001	38.4	26.0	41.5
2023	955	39.8	23.9	46.2

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Immunization Rates